4 Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

The decision to move a loved one into a nursing home, or an assisted living facility, is almost always emotional and difficult. When we place our vulnerable loved ones into the care of nursing homes, we place a lot of trust into these facilities. Sadly, far too many nursing homes are failing to live up to their end of the bargain. A report from the United States Congress showed that almost 33 percent of nursing homes committed some form of abuse or neglect over a two year stretch. We need to do better and we need to stay vigilant. If you believe that your loved one is being abused or neglected in an assisted living facility, please contact an experienced nursing home abuse attorney immediately.

Top Four Signs of Nursing Home Neglect

Physical effects- Look for random bruising, dehydration, weight loss, bedsores, unexplained injuries: all of these conditions are things that should not be consistently happening in an assisted living facility. The facility is supposed to be taking care of your vulnerable loved one. A one time small bruise is often meaningless, but you should always note physical changes. They are warning signs, and consistent problems is very strong evidence that abuse or neglect is taking place.

Emotional changes- Emotional changes can be a sign of problems. First, listen to your loved one. If they ever report to you that something is wrong, you should trust them and investigate the situation. Also watch out for increased agitation or sudden emotional withdrawnness. Changes in your loved one’s mental state can be a warning sign of abuse.

Issues with staff- Keep your eye on the staff of the nursing home. Staff issues can shed light on deep problems within the facility that put your loved one at risk. For example, if a facility seems consistently understaffed, that is a problem. If the staff of the facility is constantly turning over, that is also a sign of a problem. Finally, if the staff is unable or unwilling to speak to you or answer your questions or concerns, you should speak to an attorney.

Bad feeling- Sometimes you walk into a place and things just feel wrong. You might not be able to put your finger on it, but this feeling is an important sign. Nursing home neglect is often subtle and extremely hard to detect. If you have bad feelings about a nursing home, it is a good idea to speak to a nursing home abuse lawyer to explore your legal options.

Nursing home abuse remains far too common. Our elderly and vulnerable loved ones and deserve so much better. Nursing home neglect is often insidious. In these type of cases, it is best to trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, you should act. There is simply too much at stake. If you believe that your loved one is being mistreated in an assisted living facility, please contact an experienced attorney in your area right away.

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